Molecular spray carbonator assembly



Patented May 26, 1953 MOLECULAR SPRAY 'CARBONATOR ASSEMBLY Abraham J. Cohen, Samuel Levine, and Morris Caminear, New Haven, and Stephen S. Price,

North Haven, Conn.

Application November 9, 1950, Serial No. 194,904

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a molecular spray assembly, and has for one of its Objects the production of a simple and efiicient spray carbonator assembly which is so constructed as to simultaneously discharge water and carbon dioxide in a manner whereby the water molecules are imprisoned to a high degree by carbon dioxide, to obtain a high volume content carbonated water, While using a minimum amount of carbon dioxide.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient sprayer which is constructed in a manner so as to discharge water in a whirling mist which mistis surrounded by a discharge of carbon dioxide to imprison the water molecules of the mist to a high degree with the carbon dioxide to obtain a high volume content carbonated Water.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a top plan View of one form of the spray carbonator assembly;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the water and carbon dioxide discharge means;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified type of sprayer, such as is shown in our co-pending application identified herein.

By referring to the drawing in detail, In designates the housing of the sprayer or molecular spray 'carbonator assembly having an externally threaded projecting neck II for fitting into a sprayer or other securing element carried by a reservoir tank to which the device or assembly is adapted to be secured. The assembly preferably is carried by a reservoir such as is set forth in our co-pending application relating to a Carbonator Cooler, filed November 9, 1950, Serial Number 194,903. The housing I is provided with a water inlet cavity or socket I2 in which is threaded a suitable fitting I3. The fitting I3 is provided with 2. depending skirt portion I4 which surrounds the inner end of the water entrance bore l of the fitting I3. The fitting I3 is provided with an externally threaded stem I6 which is adapted to engage a suitable water supply. A washer of any suitable material defines a valve seat l1 at the inner end of the bore I5, and a ball valve I8 normally closes the opening through the valve seat '41, A coil spring I9 yieldably holds the ball valve end of the bore 32.

l8 upon the valve seat I! to permit entrance of water into the cavity I2 through the bore I5, while preventing a back fiow therethrough. This structure just described provides a check valve for the water supply line leading to the housing ll).

The housing I0 is provided with a central chamber 28, which extends into the neck II. A spray nozzle 2| isfitted in the chamber 20 and the inner end 22 of the nozzle 2| protrudes beyond the extremity or bottom Wall 23 of the neck I I, as shown in Figure 2. The enlarged head portion 24 of the nozzle 2| fits within the socket 25 of the housing It and rests upon the supporting shoulder 26 of the housing Ill. The nozzle 2| is provided with a longitudinal chamber 21, in which fits an elongated stem 28. The stem 28 has threaded engagement with the nozzle 2 I, as at 29, to facilitate the adjustable mounting of the stem 28 within the nozzle 2|. The stem 28 is provided with a reduced neck 38 which is bifurcated, as at 3|, to facilitate the threaded adjustment of the stem 28 within the nozzle 2 I. The stem 28 is provided with a central bore 32 which extends inwardly from the upper end of the stem 28 to provide a water entrance from the communicating port 33. The port 33 provides a communication between the water inlet cavity I2 and the water entrance A cap nut 34 closes the upper end of the chamber 21 and a filtering screen 3'5 is fitted in the upper end of the chamber 21 between the cap nut 34 and the upper end of the stem 28. The screen 35 also extends across the discharge end of the communicating port 33, as shown in Figure 2. The screen 35 is provided with a portion '35 which fits in a suitable socket 34 formed in the nut 34. The stem 28 is provided with a transverse port 36 which communicates with the bore 32 and extends through the sides of the stem 28, as shown. The lower or inner end of the stem 28 is spaced inwardly of the wall of the chamber 21 adjacent the port 38 at the lower end of the stem 28. 1

As is shown in Figure 2, the lower end 22 of the nozzle 2| is provided with a tapering seat 31 upon which seat 31 rest the angular flanges 38 which are carried by the inverted cone-shaped or tapering end 39 of the stem 28, to hold the end of the stem in spaced relation to the seat 31. The angular flanges 38 will also cause water to be ejected through the discharge port 4|] at the lower end of the nozzle 2| in a whirling fine water mist which agitates the water within the container into which the water is being atomized. The bottom wall 23 of the neck II is provided with a series of small carbon dioxide gas discharge apertures 4| which encircle the nozzle 2| and communicate with the chamber 20 which surrounds the nozzle 2|.

The housing I is provided with a carbon dioxide receiving cavity or socket 42 which communicates with the chamber 20 through the port 43, shown in Figure 2. A fitting 44, similarly constructed to the fitting I3, is threaded into the outer end of the socket 42. The fitting 44 is provided with an externally threaded stem 45 for engagement with a suitable carbon dioxide supply line. The fitting 44 is also provided with an inlet bore 45 extending to the socket 42, the

inner end of the bore 46 being normally closed by means of the spring-pressed ball valve 47, fitting upon the washer valve seat 48. An inwardly extending skirt 48 surrounds the seat 48 and valve 41.

The housing ||l further is provided with a carbon dioxide pressure relief socket or cavity 49 which communicates with the chamber 20 through the communicating port 50. A' fitting is threaded into the outer end of the socket 49 and is provided with an externally threaded stem 52 for connecting with a suitable pressure relief line. The fitting 5| is provided with a suitable bore 53 leading to an encased chamber 54 having an escape port 55 communicating with the socket 49 A spring-pressed valve 55 normally closes the port 55 but will automatically relieve pressure from the chamber 20 and socket 49 when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined degree.

While in Figures 1 to 4. inclusive, one form of the assembly is illustrated, the housing Ill shown in Figure 5, which is a modified type shown generally in our co-pending application above identified, carries the relief valve 5| and the carbon dioxide valve 44 upon the sides of the housing Ill the water entrance valve |3 being on top of the housing Ill. The structures are the same as illustrated and described in connection with Figures 2 and 3, with the exception of position. The position of each valve inay be varied to suit the convenience of installaion.

The operation is as follows:

Water enters under pressure through the fitting |3, passes through the port 33, through the bore 32, into the chamber 21, and is discharged in a whirling mist through the port 40 into the reservoir to which the sprayer is attached. At the same time, carbon dioxide gas passes through the fitting 44, through the port 43 into the chamber 20 and out through the series of apertures 4| which surround the single water orifice or aperture 40 of the nozzle 2|. The water molecules of the whirling mist therefore are imprisoned to a high degree by a carbon dioxide spray which is ejected from the apertures 4| in the nature of an encircling series of fine closely arranged streams, thereby obtaining a high volume content carbonated water while using a minimum of carbon dioxide. Pressure of the carbon dioxide is automatically relieved through the medium of the automatic valve carried by the fitting 5|. It of course should be understood that suitable control valves may be carried by the lines leading to the fittings |3', 44 and 5| to selectively open or close communication between the fittings and the connecting lines leading thereto.

As will be noted in Figures 1, 2 and 3, thefittings I3, 44 and 5| overhang the head portion 4 24 of the nozzle 2| to removably retain the nozzle 2| in the housing l0 when the fittings are fixed in place.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new is:

1. A molecular spray carbonator assembly comprising a, housing, a water discharge means, a water connnection for said discharge means, a carbon dioxide discharge means surrounding the water discharge means to imprison the water molecules discharged from the water discharge means to thereby obtain a high volume content carbonated water while using a minimum amount of carbon dioxide, a carbon dioxide connection for said carbon dioxide discharge means, said housing having a nozzle receiving socket, said water discharge means comprising a nozzle removably fitted in said socket of said housing, a stem in the nozzle, the housing having a communication with the water connection for feeding water under pressure to said nozzle, said nozzle having a discharge aperture at the discharge end thereof, said stem being spaced from said nozzle for a portion of its length, said stem having a tapering end, angular veins formed upon said tapering end and spacing said tapering end from the discharge end of said nozzle for discharging a water mist in a whirling motion through the discharge aperture of said nozzle, said stem being longitudinally adjustable toward and away from the discharge aperture of the nozzle to regulate the volume of discharge of water mist through said aperture, and a removable means closing said nozzle receiving socket above said stem and facilitating access to said stem for the removal of said stem from said nozzle-for cleaning, repair and replacement.

2. A molecular spray carbonator assembly comprising a housing, a water discharge means, a water connection for said discharge meansa carbon dioxide .discharge means surrounding the water discharge means to imprison the water molecules discharged from the water discharge means to thereby obtain a high volume content carbonated water while using a minimum amount of carbon dioxide, a carbon dioxide connection for said carbon dioxide discharge means, said housing having a nozzle receiving socket, said water discharge means comprising a nozzle removably fitted in said socket of said housing, a stem in the nozzle, the housing having a communication with the water connection for feeding water under pressure to said nozzle, said nozzle having a discharge aperture at the dis charge end thereof, said stem being spaced from said nozzle for a portion of its length, said stem having a tapering end, angular veins formed upon said tapering end and spacing said tapering end from the discharge end of said nozzle for discharging a water mist in a whirling motion through the discharge aperture of said nozzle, said stem being longitudinally adjustable toward and away from the discharge aperture of the nozzle to regulate the volume of discharge of water mist through said aperture, a removable means closing said nozzle receiving socket above said stem and facilitating access to said stem for removal of said stem from said nozzle for cleaning, repair and replacement, and said stern having an upper bifurcated end to facilitate the gripping of said stem with a tool for the removal of said stem from said nozzle.

3. A molecular spray carbonator assembly comp-rising a housing, a water discharge means, a Water connection for said discharge means, a carbon dioxide discharge means surrounding the water discharge means to imprison the water molecules discharged from the water discharge means to thereby obtain a high volume content carbonated water while using a minimum amount of carbon dioxide, a carbon dioxide connection for said carbon dioxide discharge means, said housing having a nozzle receiving socket, said water discharge means comprising a nozzle removably fitted in said socket of said housing, a stem in the nozzle, the housing having a communication with the water connection for feeding water under pressure to said nozzle, said nozzle having a discharge aperture at the discharge end thereof, said stem being spaced from said nozzle for a portion of its length, said stem having a tapering end, angular veins formed upon said tapering end and spacing said tapering end from the discharge end of said nozzle for discharging a water mist in a whirling motion through the discharge aperture of said nozzle, said stem being longitudinally adjustable toward and away from the discharge aperture of the nozzle to regulate the volume of discharge of water mist through said aperture, a removable means closing said nozzle receiving socket above said stem and facilitating access to said stem for the removal of said stem from said nozzle for cleaning, repair and replacement, said stem having an upper bifurcated end to facilitate the gripping of said stem with a tool for the removal of said stem from said nozzle, and a filtering screen removably fitted in the upper end of said nozzle receiving socket between said removable means and the upper end of said stem to facilitate access to said screen for cleaning and replacement.

4. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a nozzle receiving socket, said housing having a water inlet cavity, a carbon dioxide receiving cavity and a carbon dioxide pressure relief cavity, said cavities being arranged in encircling relation around said nozzle receiving socket, a fitting removably secured in each cavity, a nozzle removably fitted in said nozzle receiving socket, said fittings having means overhanging said nozzle for removably retaining said nozzle in place when the fittings are secured in said cavities, one of said fittings providing a connection to supply carbon dioxide to said carbon dioxide receiving cavity, one of said fittings providing a connection to supply water to said water inlet cavity, and one of said fittings providing a means to relieve pressure from the pressure relief cavity, and discharge means for discharging a molecular spray of water and carbon dioxide from said housing.

5. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a nozzle receiving socket, said housing having a water inlet cavity, a carbon dioxide receiving cavity and a carbon dioxide pressure relief cavity, said cavities being arranged in encircling relation around said nozzle receiving socket, a fitting remo-vably secured in each cavity, a nozzle removably fitted in said nozzle receiving socket, said fittings having means overhanging said nozzle for removably retaining said nozzle in place when the fittings are secured in said cavities, one of said fittings providing a connection to supply carbon dioxide to said carbon dioxide receiving cavity, one of said fittings providing a connection to supply water to said water inlet cavity, and one of said fittings providing a means to relieve pressure from the pressure relief cavity, discharge means for discharging a molecular spray of water and carbon dioxide from said housing, said housing having ports providing communications between said cavities and said discharge means, and a depending skirt carried by each fitting and extending into the respective sockets to provide a circuitous passage from the fittings to the discharge means.

6. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a carbon dioxide gas chamber, said housing having an apertured lower end, a hollow nozzle protruding through said apertured lower end of said housing, said housing having a series of small closely arranged discharged apertures formed in the lower end thereof and encircling said nozzle to discharge an encircling series of fine closely arranged streams of carbon dioxide in the nature of a spray surrounding the nozzle, said nozzle having a restricted outer discharge apertured end, a stem in said nozzle, the nozzle having a water entrance port, said stem being spaced from said nozzle for a portion of its length, said stem having a tapered outer end, angular veins formed upon said tapered outer end and spacing said tapered outer end from the restricted end of said nozzle for discharging a water mist in a whirling motion through said apertured end of said nozzle, the water mist being surrounded by the closely arranged streams of carbon dioxide, and said stem being longitudinally adjustable toward and away from the apertured end of said nozzle to regulate the volume of water mist through the apertured end of said nozzle.

ABRAHAM J. COHEN. SAMUEL LEVINE. MORRIS CAMINEAR. STEPHEN S. PRICE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 984,082 Edgerton Feb. 14, 1911 1,594,641 Starr Aug. 3, 1926 2,057,434 Jaden et a1 Oct. 13, 1936 2,077,850 Painter Apr. 20, 1937 2,117,271 Bowman May 17, 1938 2,321,428 Schloz June 8, 1943 2,556,047 Stanley June 5, 1951 

